Very Short Interview No.1

Savni Bakrac is the CEO and founder at Ponce de Leon Hotel in downtown St. Petersburg.  He has been an entrepreneur for over 20 years and has made a career of starting up and developing hotels, lodges and property. I asked him a few questions regarding his history and his thoughts on entrepreneurship.

What does it mean to be an entrepreneur?

Savni: "To me, being an entrepreneur is about seeing potential where (other) people don't see potential. It's about knowing what you can do and how you are going to do it. Everything won't always go the way you want it to but as an entrepreneur you have to know how to react to problems that come up."

What do you think I should learn in an entrepreneurship course?

Savni: "There are a lot of things that can't be taught in a classroom. And those (things) you just have to experience to learn and grow as a businessman and as an entrepreneur. But things like networking, professional development, and communication skills can be taught in a class."

What is the best part of being an entrepreneur?

Savni: "Personally, I enjoy the freedom of being able to travel back home(to Croatia) whenever I need to. I can depend on my employees to do their best and to handle any problem that can come up."

After talking to Mr. Bakrac I saw him differently than I did when I worked for him last summer. As he was talking and answering some of the questions he would go into long anecdotes about his experiences and his challenges growing up. It was surprising to hear about all the challenges he faced early on and to see how successful he is now despite all the roadblocks.